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Gretta Stark

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Gretta Stark has been a reporter for the River Falls Journal since July of 2013. She previously worked as a reporter for the New Richmond News from June 2012 to July 2013. She holds a BA in Print and Electronic Media from Wartburg College.

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Due to higher than expected enrollment numbers in the St. Croix Central 4-year-old kindergarten program, the district recently added an additional 12-student classroom. The addition means the Trinity Lutheran Church site will have two morning sessions and one afternoon session of 4K. Jennifer Olson, director of special education and student service, said the growth was unexpected. "At the end of last school year we had enough space to accommodate all students registered.

The St. Croix Central 50-year anniversary is in less than a month. "An anniversary is a celebration of a milestone. Hammond and Roberts will celebrate the 50th-year anniversary of the consolidation of their school districts on the weekend of Sept. 23," said Beth Monson, event organizer and 1969 SCC graduate. After nearly a year of planning, Monson says final preparations for the St. Croix Central 50-year anniversary are starting to fall into place, but she's still waiting for people's RSVPs and pre-payments to some of the weekend events. History In the last 50 years the St.

When Randy and Aimee Staples said "I do" at an intimate ceremony in the church of the Heritage Center in New Richmond, they never imagined their special day would be shared with thousands of people across the Midwest. Their Sept. 18, 2010 wedding is featured in the fall edition of Minnesota Bride Magazine.

Unlike last year's Hammond Heartland Days, rain didn't interrupt any of this past weekend's festivities. "We had really nice weather and pretty good attendance," said Hammond Lions Club President Jay Ditlefsen. Ditlefsen said attendance was up since last year, which he credits to wonderful weather all weekend long. He said the Lions Club celebration committee did a good job "putting together the nuts and bolts of the weekend," and the weekend ran smoothly. The Hammond Community Library started celebrating early with family fun events on Wednesday night.

Often times it's the people who do a lot of little things that have the biggest hearts. "She does so many little things within the community," said Lions Club President Jay Ditlefsen about this year's Hammond's Biggest Heart Award recipient. Michelle Johnson was presented with the Biggest Heart award during Friday night's Hammond Heartland Days pageant. The award is designed to recognize an individual who has been supportive and loyal to the community, shown leadership and sportsmanship, is there when needed and has been an outstanding friend or neighbor -- in other words -- the person with

As of Wednesday, Aug. 10, the St. Croix Central High School gym has more sports spirit. Last week more than a dozen sports recognition banners went up on the walls of the gym. Mike Nielsen said he always thought the gym walls were pretty bare, so when he was approached about helping make the banners a reality he jumped on board right away. Bob Brooks spent six weeks researching all of the St. Croix Central sports accomplishments.

As the days of summer dwindle down, enrollment in the St. Croix Central School District continues to go up. In recent weeks all three schools have seen an increase in student enrollment. At the school board meeting on Monday, Aug. 15, Elementary School Principal Steve Sanders said in just one week the elementary gained 17 additional students. "I'm at 118 in kindergarten. In five sections that puts 24 in three sections and 23 in two sections, so we're right at the brink on that. With 130 in first grade, what puts me at 21-22 in each class, so that's pretty good.

It was another late night for those in attendance at the Village of Hammond Board meeting Monday, Aug. 8. There were 24 items on the meeting agenda and many of those items raised discussion among board members and resident attendees. Two of the longest discussions stemmed from the village sewer rate item and the village resident petition. Village Financial Advisor, Brian Reilly, of Ehlers Inc., gave a sewer system financial analysis (historical and projected) presentation at the meeting.

Hammond is going to be a happening place this weekend. Hammond Heartland Days start Thursday, Aug. 11, and there are plenty of activities to keep residents and friends busy all weekend long. Most Heartland Days events are held at the Village Park, located behind the Village Hall. A few changes to this year's celebration include no cover charge to any of the performances in the park, as well as the royalty pageant moving to Friday night instead of Thursday evening like previous years.